Special Project: Development of the Curriculum in the Program of Esthetic Restorative and Implant Dentistry
(Master Degree; International Program)

Rationale

It has been the vision of the government that Thailand would be the center for dental health care in the South-East Asian region, which corresponds to the guiding principle of Chulalongkorn University, that all faculties are rapid in establishing graduate international programs, in order to be able to compete with other renown universities, and to get the school ready to be self-governing and independent. In addition, external threats, i.e. competition of providing higher education courses among leading dental schools, increased popularity of attending continuing education courses provided by private sectors, are to be concerned. The Faculty of Dentistry, Chulalongkorn University realizes the necessities of producing trained specialized dentists in the international standard to accommodate the policy of the government as well as that of the university’s. In order to achieve the above mentioned goal, there is an absolute need to develop an attractive and highly modernized program by collaboration of faculty members in multi-disciplines. Besides, there is the need to provide treatments in the setting of dental clinic that does not attach to the government pattern. Additionally, creation of atmosphere that accommodates with the teaching and learning process is definitely required. Hopefully the Program of Esthetic Restorative and Implant Dentistry will set a standard for other upcoming international dental education programs.
The Faculty of Dentistry, Chulalongkorn University has come to the agreement that nowadays esthetic restorative and implant dentistry are the two fields of interest for general practitioners. The esthetic restorative and implant dentistry is the advanced art and science of integration of several major fields in dentistry, i.e. operative dentistry, prosthodontics, periodontics, surgery, orthodontics and occlusion, involving systematic treatment planning to achieve highly successful treatment outcome leading to proper function of temporomuscular system, as well as improving or maintaining esthetic condition of the patient. The program provides services, both by students and faculty members, to patients that would promote not only their oral and physical but also mental health.
Collaboration with universities abroad has been initially established. Students attending the program will spend at least one semester at sister dental school to get extra training. To achieve a successful and efficient international program, the faculty has to build a foundation of foreign patients. Atmosphere and environment suitable for international standard of teaching and learning also must be provided. The faculty has critically selected the location to establish the international clinic, and has provided high standard facilities to accommodate the program. The program contains highly qualified faculty members, as well as highly efficient supporting personnel to provide high-end impressive dental services.

Objectives of the program are to;

Establish the international teaching and learning courses

Enable the faculty to generate a program that is self-supported

Establish a national standard for international dental education

Establish a prototype for dental service that is different from the governmental pattern.